FILE 12: AUCTION OF HWANDUDAEDO AND DURUMAGI PART 2

A client of mine still owes me a favour. Woo Gwak came an hour later to help me carry this to my house. I was kindly driven home by him after he loaded it into his car. He politely didn't question me, and he spoke about other things.

He left without a word after loading the armour. I noticed my house was empty of all spirits. I was eager to get it appraised, so when the next day came, I called an auctioneer.

"This is fantastic. Today, we have many Durumagi in our museums, but not one this old. The condition is not that bad either. A bit of polish should fix it right up," he said excitedly.

"How much is it worth?" I asked impatiently.

"I'd say the Gajeong era. If you auction the armour as it is, it'll fetch sixty-seven million won. The  Hwandudaedo, depending on who forged it, might fetch about one hundred million won," he estimated.

"Oh wow. And if I auction it in good condition?" I inquired optimistically. He looked thoughtfully at the gear.

"Then I'd say, together, they'll fetch four hundred million won," he smiled. I nearly fainted. That's three hundred thousand dollars!

I could buy a house with that money! The auctioneer chuckled as I fell onto the couch. "When's the next auction?" I asked faintly.

"Next month," he replied. 

"Will that be enough time to clean the gear?"

"In modern times, there is more than enough time."

"Then I'll see you at the auction house!" I high-fived the man. I phoned the National Museum of Korea, which is famous for its antique restoration.

They were eager once they heard what I had found. When I brought it in, they examined it thoroughly, and enthusiastically but carefully carried it to their back room.

"Can we have it? It'll be so educational for the public-"

"No."

"But-"

"No." I'm not donating anything. That's my money.

The curator sighed and informed me that they'd contact me in a week. "Thanks. Can I ask for a favour?"

"If we are able."

"Can you find out who was the sword's blacksmith?" 

"Of course. Leave it to me. I'm curious about it myself. He shook my hand and said, "Safe trip, Mr. McNeill."

As I waited for the call, I practised driving my rental. I got a lot of scares in the meantime. Why do so many people drive like that? 

A week later, I got the call I had so anxiously waited for. I paid for an Uber, since I had to be careful with the Durumagi. The curator kindly greeted me at the entrance.

"Mr. McNeill. The Durumagi has been fixed to tiptop shape. The Hwandudaedo is still being polished, so we can talk while we wait."

"I see no problem with that. What do you want to talk about?" I inquired. We walked among the artifacts. We had entered the Prehistory exhibit. How boring.

"First, I would like to explain the origin of your sword." Aw (censor).

"Hwandudaedo, or ring-pommel sword, is a type of single-edged sword used during the Three Kingdoms era. Hwando, or "military sword," was a single-edged sword used as a side arm for the Korean soldier well into the 19th century.

Sometimes referred to as a "short sword," its length of 24 to 34 in (61 to 86 cm) was comparable to that of the two-handed Japanese Katana which may have been the inspiration for the Ssangsoodo. 

Reports found in the "Book of Corrections," a Korean record of the Imjin Warum (1592–1598), state that Japanese swords taken in combat were readily pressed into service by simply trimming the length of the hilt."

"Okay? Your point?" I asked impatiently.

"The armour you found is confirmed to be that of Korean ceremonial armour. The sword is an imported Japanese katana." (CENSOR)! That auctioneer.

"Will I still get a lot of money?" I implored anxiously.

"Oh yes. If bought by a dedicated collector," the curator assured me. I sincerely pray that the auction will have rich collectors.

"And the forger?" Please let it be Muramasa.

"Nagasone Kotetsu. Your katana is one of the Kotetsu series. Congratulations," the curator patted my back. Uh, who the hell was that?

"Thanks, I guess," I said doubtfully. I was clueless. "So, will it pay a lot?"

"Wait and see. For an enthusiast, you will get millions!" He looked at me enviously. 

I grinned foolishly. I couldn't wait until next month. 

Until the end of June, the armour and katana stood hidden away inside my house. I solved two more cases, but there is not much to talk about, so I won't mention anything here.

Finally, pay day came. I visited the auction house the day before, so I already received an invitation for the trading. Before the bidding, I browsed among the goods, but none attracted my attention.

It was your usual paintings, decorative plates, and old cabinets. Someone even brought a vintage toilet. Really?

When one o'clock came around, the time for bidding, I eagerly sat at the back. I wanted to witness my sale. A middle-aged man in a fancy suit came on stage with a young assistant.

"Welcome to Seoul Auctioneers. Today, we have many excellent goods for you. And a surprise is coming at the end, so please keep your seats until then," he announced. 

I got excited. "First item, two wine glasses by George Ravenscroft in London, in 1674. Ravens' heads can be seen on the stem, which represents the family crest.

The first bid is fifty million won, and it rises by fifty thousand." He waited as the bids kept coming in.

At the end, the glasses sold for one hundred million and two hundred thousand won. If people will pay this much for two crystal glasses, then I'll be set for life after they buy my items.

After the glasses came two silver plates, a tortoise shell jewellery box, a bird cage, porcelain dolls, a Hongildong-jeon First Edition, and a pen belonging to Choe Ik-hyeon, a famous Korean scholar. 

"Thank you for your patience. For our last item, an ancient set of armour!"

Wait, mine wasn't the surprise? "A Durumagi from the Joseon dynasty. As you can see, it is in excellent condition.

You can use it for decoration, or it can be a collector's item. Bidding starts from four hundred million won, and rises by fifty thousand." He waited with his hammer in the air. 

Come one. I sat on the edge of my seat. There were some murmurs before someone raised their number. Yes! A bid. "Four hundred and ten." Say what? He said you must raise by fifty!

Miffed, I gazed around the theatre for more bids. None came. Cheapskates!

"Does anyone wish to bid? Going once, going twice. Sold to number 10. Congratulations to number 10 on his purchase," he said automatically.

The man and his companion rose from their seats and left to receive the Durumagi.

Do you know what I went through to get that suit of armour? It's priceless! I hope the katana does better.